Foundation

Above: Carolyn Roloff playing the violin at an event in the
medical library. Inset: Roloff, Dian Canaday and Lisa Boucek on Match Day

Carolyn Roloff: resident artist

“It’s important for people to pursue their artistic passions outside of their everyday work,” Carolyn Roloff says. A fourth-year medical student from Urbana, Roloff takes her own advice to heart. “I got involved in SCOPE my first year of medical school as an outlet from studying,” she says. “I’ve always been interested in the arts, and SCOPE was the perfect venue.”

For four years, she has been a component of the success of the School’s annual literary magazine. She’s been an entrant, a reviewer, publicity coordinator and special event planner. This year, Roloff was the main publicity and event planner, reminding the community to submit their work and attend the spring SCOPE receptions.

“It’s a unique experience to attend a medical school that values the humanities as much as SIU, and the humanities are a very necessary part of empathetic medical practice,” Roloff says. “Without the humanities, it can be very hard to process all of the experiences you have in the medical field.”

In addition to SCOPE and studying, Roloff spends her time dancing with a community group and playing the violin. Music has always been an integral part of her life. “I never thought, ‘Will I play an instrument?’ It was more, ‘Which one will I play?’” Roloff says.

Next year, she will begin her residency training in pediatrics at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. She’s already “scoped out” the local swing dancing opportunities and is looking forward to an active life in the community.

The most recent edition of SCOPE was unveiled at a reading and reception at the School on April 23. In addition, a special reception was held at the Vachel Lindsay Home as a part of their “Artist in Residence” series. Look for more details in the next aspects.

Support the arts in medicine

Funding for SCOPE is
generously provided through the SIU
Foundation. Consider
a gift to the Dean’s
Excellence Fund to help
us continue the tradition
of SCOPE.

This year, nine medical students have received Alumni Scholarship awards. The awards are given annually to third- or fourth-year medical students. All of this year’s recipients are fourth-year students.

The Alumni Scholarship was established by the charter Class of 1976 as a gift in honor of its 25th reunion. The Class of 1977 followed the lead of the previous class in supporting the fund with reunion gifts. Alumni from all classes contribute to the scholarship annually, increasing the availability of funds.

Seated, left to right: Jeremy Kulacz, Kelly Galanos, Dionna Mathews, Rachel Day and Daniel Rosenkrans. Standing, left to right: Douglas Juvinall, Richard Austin and Robert Tennill. Not pictured: Jacob Parke.

The mission of SIU School of Medicine is to assist the citizens of central and southern Illinois in meeting their health-care needs through education, patient care, research and service to the community.